Type-cleaning attachment for type-writing machines.



PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905,

. J. H. LADD. TYPE CLEANING ATTACHMENT-FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1905.

INI/ENTOH z/Ofi/N H. L/700 ATTORNEYS JOHN H. LADD, OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA.

TYPE-CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed May 31, 1905 Serial No 263.125.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN H. LADD, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of Falls Church, in the county of Fairfax and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Type-Cleaning Attachment for Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a type-cleaning device adapted to be detachably secured to the ribbon-carrying bar or plate of type-writing machines of the class represented by the Remington, the Densmore, and the Smith Premier, inall of which machines the type-carrying levers are arranged in a circle and adapted to be thrown upward tobring the types in contact with the ribbon.

The features of novel construction, arrangement, and attachment are as hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of the cleaning device to the ribbon-carrying bar or plate and to the ribbon itself as constructed and arranged in the Remington machine. Fig. 2 is a front end view of the cleaner, the ribbon and the ribbon-- carrying bar being shown in edge view. Fig. 3 is a side view of the cleaner. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the sheet-metal blank from which the frame of the cleaner is formed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cleaner Without the brush.

In Figs. 1 and 2, X indicates the ribboncarrying bar or plate, and Y the ribbon of a type-writing machine of the class before referred to. My improved attachment comprises the frame A and the cleaner proper, which is preferably in the form of a brush. The frame or body ofthe device is constructed integrally or in one piece, preferably of brass or other spring sheet metal. A blank is cut out of a plate of sheet metal in the required form, which is indicated in Fig. 4. This op eration is effected quickly and cheaply by means of a cutting-die. The two main parts of the blank are indicated by l and 1, the same being connected by a neck or reduced portion 1. The blank is bent at the neck 1 so that the parts 1 1 lie one over the other and practically parallel, but separated by a space adapted to receive the ribbon Y when the device is inserted in place in the slot provided in ribbon-carrying bar or plate X. In the bent form the neck or connecting portion 1 describes an acute curve and extends a small distance from the parts 1 1-. The side edges of the part 1 are bent downward and inward toward each other, as shown best in Fig. 2, to form a holder for the brush-back 6, whose sides are beveled correspondingly. The metal of the blank having a certain degree of resiliency the pendent flanges i serve as elastic holders for the brush-baclgwhich retain the brush in any desired position, but allow it to be easily slid out and in and also to be adjusted, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 3, for the purpose of placing the brush in different positions when the bristles 5 are worn or broken at a particular point. The upper plate of portion 1 of the device has three flanges on each side, the

same being indicated by 2, 2, and 3, those in-' dicated by corresponding numerals being diametrically opposite each other, as shown in Figs. I and 5. The longer flanges 3 intervene the flanges 2 2 on each side and are arranged above the others to provide a space adapted for receiving the edges of the ribbon-guide X at the sides of the opening therein. Since the several flanges 2 2 3 have a certain degree of resiliency or spring action when the device is inserted in place, as shown in Fig. 1, the flanges clamp the edges of the plate X with a degree of friction corresponding to their pressurein opposite directions. In the Remington machine the relative length of the flanges is unimportant; but I have discovered by making the inner flanges 2 longer than the others, so that they project laterally beyond them, the cleaner is adapted for attachment to other machines of the same general class, but having peculiarities in the construction of the ribbon-guide, as the Densmore and the Smith Premier.

It will be seen that by the spring connection I provided between the attaching part 1 and the brush-holding part 1 of the device, the lower part 1* may yield upwardly when struck by the type of a key-lever, so that there is a yielding, in place of a solid, impact, which tends to avoid injury to the bristles 5 and at the same time considerably increases the reaction or return spring of the brush under impact, whereby the bristles act on the face of the type to better advantage, or, in other words, effect the cleaning of the same more quickly and effectively. By the adaptation for adjustment of the brush B,-as indicated, its durability or life is greatly prolonged, since every point in the middle length of the bristle portion 5 may be brought into action and caused to receive the blows of the type in the cleaning operation until the bristles are broken down or worn out. Further, the adaptation of the brush for convenient removal enables it to be cleaned with facility.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the ribbon-carrying bar or guide of a type-writing machine, the same having a notch or open slot above the ribbon, of a type-cleaning device provided with a cleaner proper and having lateral spring-flanges adapted to engage and clamp the opposite side edges of the plate bounding the said slot whereby the device is supported and held firmly by the elastic clamps, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the ribbon-guide of a type-writing machine having a notch or slot, of a type-cleaning device comprising a body portion adapted to be held and supported by lateral engagement with the sides of said slot, and an under portion carrying the brush, and a spring connecting such under portion with the body portion, whereby the cleaner proper is duly supported, but adapted to yield upward when struck by a type, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the ribbon-guide of a type-writing machine, the same having a notch or slot as specified, of a type-cleaning attachment comprising a plate having elastic side flanges arranged to receive and adapted to clamp the edges of the plate bounding opposite sides of the slot, and an under portion carrying a cleaner proper, substantially as described.

4. An improved type-cleaning attachment for type-writing machines comprising an upper portion having lateral flanges arranged at different heights and adapted to clamp the edges of a ribbon-guide, and an under portion having spring-clamps for holding abrush, substantially as described.

5. An improved type-cleaning attachment for type-Writing machines comprising an upper portion adapted to engage a ribbon-guide, a lower portion adapted to support the brush or other cleaner proper, and a bowed spring connecting portion which holds the two parts in due position relative to each other but permits the lower portion to yield to impact of the type, substantially as described.

6. The improved type-cleaning attachment for type-writing machines formed of an integral blank of spring sheet metal, one portion being provided with lateral spring-flanges for engaging and clamping a ribbon-guide and another portion having spring-flanges for receiving and clamping a brush or cleaner proper, and a connecting portion which serves to hold the two parts in the relation to each other required for use and yet permit the lower portion to yield in the manner described.

7. The improved type-cleaning attachment for type-writing machines comprising an upper portion having a series of lateral flanges adapted to engage the edges of a ribbonguide, two of said flanges extending laterally beyond the others, and an under, brush-carrying portion, substantially as described.

8. The improved type-cleaning attachment for type writing machines composed of a sheet-metal plate formed of an upper portion having on each side three lateral flanges, the middle ones being raised above the others, and the lower portion connected with the upper one and adapted for attachment of a brush or other cleaner, substantially as described.

JOHN H. LADD. Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMoN, AMos W. HART. 

